Menu Monday - Just a short break...

Ok, so maybe 4 months isn't quite so short. Christmas gets crazy around here because The Trail Boss has a job working for a big retail store and we don't see much of him from about a week before Thanksgiving until after New Years. To top it all off, I was recently diagnosed with ADD. Ha, and all these years I just thought I was weird and crazy. I also have a Buckaroo with ADHD so between the two of us, life is pretty interesting at our house.
But anyway, I'm hoping to get this blog thing rolling again and get back to sharing one of the things I like to do best...cooking.

Let's start by seeing what we're gonna be eating around here this week!
Monday - Cracker Barrel Chicken Casserole & Corn
Tuesday - Taco Soup
Wednesday - Leftover Buffet
Thursday - Beef Stroganoff, Steamed Mixed Veggies
Friday - Breakfast Burritos
Saturday - Tater Tot Taco Salad - from the girls at Better than Burgers
Sunday - Salisbury Steaks, Mashed Potatoes, Brown Sugar Carrots, Rolls

*Note: If you've read any of my past posts, you know about the camera incident. Well, I did get a new camera for Christmas, but I'm still learning how to use it. So hang in there with me while I get the thing figured out. I'll get it eventually. :)

Here's a pic of the bread I baked yesterday. Whenever I need a little ego boost, I make make bread for my family. First the kids all want to help play in the dough  knead the dough. Then they can't leave the oven door closed stop talking about how good it smells while it's cooking. But the best is seeing those happy faces as a soft, warm buttery slice gets shoved in their little mouths eaten ever so carefully so not a single crumb is wasted. It does a mommy's heart good to see them all so happy.

So here's the recipe I use to create such family happiness...

90 Minute Bread

4 cups warm water (100- 110 degrees is best for the yeast)

1/4 cup melted shortening

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup yeast

1 tsp salt

7-8 cups of bread flour -sometimes I substitute 1-2 cups of wheat flour

to make me feel like I'm being healthy

Combine warm water, sugar and yeast in a mixing bowl. I use my KitchenAid to do all of the mixing. Give it a little stir to make the yeast happy with the warm sugariness. (spell check just told me sugariness is not a word, but it is now) Let it sit and get even happier for about 5 - 10 minutes.

Mix in your salt and melted shortening, but make sure it's not so hot that it's going to kill the yeast. Dead yeast is not happy yeast.

Slowly start mixing in the flour a cup at a time until you get a medium soft dough with just a tiny bit sticky left to it. I used to think that the dough needed enough flour so it didn't stick to the bowl at all, but since I've learned that it ends up lighter and softer if it has a bit of stickiness to it. Yes, there's a bit more mess to deal with, but it's worth it.

Sprinkle your surface with flour and plop the dough on top. Knead it into a nice big loaf shape, sprinkling more flour if needed (this is where you get rid of some the stickiness) and cut it into 4 smaller loaves. Cover and let them rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.

Pound each loaf down and form into loaves. (Makes some tasty rolls, too.)

Place your bread into greased/buttered pans, cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Tops should be golden brown.

I hope it makes your family happy too!